The Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel will be impressive under any circumstances but the huge crowds make it difficult to appreciate what you are looking at. The Tour itself was good and informative but would have liked more time in the Sistine Chapel at the end.

This was a really memorable tour for so many reasons. The Gallery is wonderful, packed with art treasures but not with people (unlike the Vatican).Bernini and Caravaggio are the big attractions and the works are displayed to show them at their best. We were fortunate in having a tour guide who was informative and entertaining. I am not enthusing about her because she is English. It is more her qualities as an actress/drama teacher that enabled her to bring the art works to life. She was particularly good at describing the Bernini sculptures and the way the works were produced but all of her accounts were informed and knowledgeable. Over the years I have been on many escorted tours round galleries but this one stands out as one of the best- partly because the gallery itself was so attractive but also because the guide was so well-informed and enthusiastic that she enhanced the whole experience. She was even able to recommend good restaurants whilst showing us round the gardens. The Borghese is a 5 star attraction on its own but when you add a 5 star guide you create a truly memorable experience.